4 ms·

I skipped most of high school. I didn't have a condition. High school was bullshit and pointless. Some people expect me to be repentant for this now that I'm on

I skipped most of high school. I didn't have a condition. High school was bullshit and pointless. Some people expect me to be repentant for this now that I'm on the wrong side of 25, but I'm not. I was right. It was a waste of my time and I minimized my exposure to idiots who thought they had power over my future. Maybe instead of asking what's wrong with these kids that they don't want to go to school, ask what's wrong with the schools that kids don't want to go.

boeingUH60 3y ago
If you truly skipped most of high school and succeeded, then you're the exception. Most people that take that route end up in a dead-end job, prison, drug addiction, homelessness, or endless other problems. Sure, school isn't perfect and has its issues, but kids skipping school is a big problem.
- jovial_cavalier 3y ago
  It doesn't matter whether or not being able to get away with it is the norm. If a large cohort of kids are skipping high school, it is likely something wrong with the schools. Maybe we should consider reforming them to be less soul crushing and awful?
  - boeingUH60 3y ago
    Of course, people should try their best to fix schools, but in the meantime, kids must attend..
    - jovial_cavalier 3y ago
      Why?
    - YellOh 3y ago
      Why? I feel like the burden should be on the institution trying to waste >1000 hrs per year of someone's time, rather than the person that just wants to not participate in the system.
      - boeingUH60 3y ago
        What's the alternative for a minor who decides they no longer want to go to school? Are the parents ready to home-school them? If not...the child will fall behind their peers and become a drag on the education system, not to mention the little career prospects for people who refuse to complete basic high schooling...I somehow can't believe I'm having to explain this.
        YellOh 3y ago
        Pretty sure the generic answer is "unschooling + free range parenting" which already exists. To be more specific... read books. Get a job (maybe a standard job if 16, maybe mowing lawns if 13, whatever). Spend a day at the local museum. Hang out with your friends at the park fighting each other with sticks. Write a story. Build a table. Voluntarily take classes in things that are actually interesting and useful, and instead of caring about grades see if you can apply/expand on the knowledge. Build a fort in the woods. Learn to sew. I could go on, but I feel like you get the point. Early education is basically day care so I can see it making sense for kids that need supervision and don't have basic skills yet (literacy, skepticism). But a well-adjusted ~13 year old should have stuff to do that's way more important than school. "Falling behind on the education system" is a product of the current system, not an end in itself. I don't want to make adults that know how to sit still and tolerate the system, I want to live with people who are actively engaged with the world. A reasonable criticism of this is that very disruptive or malicious kids might get away with more BS. The school system as it currently is doesn't prevent bullying, but some of the current "enforcement power" would definitely have to deal with kids that abuse it.
        boeingUH60 3y ago
        I duly get your point, but my opinion is that most kids aren't well equipped to learn in the non-traditional way. The current system doesn't favor everyone, but I think it works best for the average kid who doesn't have exceptional abilities or the intrinsic motivation to learn in a non-standardized way.
YellOh 3y ago
I did the lawful version (read the student handbook and missed the absolute max # of days I could without them being able to take disciplinary action), but basically same here. Also left high school at 16 because I absolutely did not want to be there until 18. Would highly recommend the GED and/or early graduation programs for anyone capable.
- jovial_cavalier 3y ago
  I would also say, if you proceed to get a college degree - even an associate's from a community college - no one will care how you got your high school diploma. Ditto for an associates when you get your bachelors, your bachelors when you get a masters, and your masters when you get a PhD.
  - WkndTriathlete 3y ago
    Not 100% true. When I see candidates with MS/PhD I always check the Bachelor's school since I've seen way too many candidates that get Bachelor's from degree mills, then somehow manage to get a Master's or PhD from a low-tier state school but are unable to grasp even first-year college concepts.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]

boeingUH60 3y ago

If you truly skipped most of high school and succeeded, then you're the exception. Most people that take that route end up in a dead-end job, prison, drug addiction, homelessness, or endless other problems. Sure, school isn't perfect and has its issues, but kids skipping school is a big problem.

jovial_cavalier 3y ago
It doesn't matter whether or not being able to get away with it is the norm. If a large cohort of kids are skipping high school, it is likely something wrong with the schools. Maybe we should consider reforming them to be less soul crushing and awful?
- boeingUH60 3y ago
  Of course, people should try their best to fix schools, but in the meantime, kids must attend..
  - jovial_cavalier 3y ago
    Why?
  - YellOh 3y ago
    Why? I feel like the burden should be on the institution trying to waste >1000 hrs per year of someone's time, rather than the person that just wants to not participate in the system.
    - boeingUH60 3y ago
      What's the alternative for a minor who decides they no longer want to go to school? Are the parents ready to home-school them? If not...the child will fall behind their peers and become a drag on the education system, not to mention the little career prospects for people who refuse to complete basic high schooling...I somehow can't believe I'm having to explain this.
      - YellOh 3y ago
        Pretty sure the generic answer is "unschooling + free range parenting" which already exists. To be more specific... read books. Get a job (maybe a standard job if 16, maybe mowing lawns if 13, whatever). Spend a day at the local museum. Hang out with your friends at the park fighting each other with sticks. Write a story. Build a table. Voluntarily take classes in things that are actually interesting and useful, and instead of caring about grades see if you can apply/expand on the knowledge. Build a fort in the woods. Learn to sew. I could go on, but I feel like you get the point. Early education is basically day care so I can see it making sense for kids that need supervision and don't have basic skills yet (literacy, skepticism). But a well-adjusted ~13 year old should have stuff to do that's way more important than school. "Falling behind on the education system" is a product of the current system, not an end in itself. I don't want to make adults that know how to sit still and tolerate the system, I want to live with people who are actively engaged with the world. A reasonable criticism of this is that very disruptive or malicious kids might get away with more BS. The school system as it currently is doesn't prevent bullying, but some of the current "enforcement power" would definitely have to deal with kids that abuse it.
        boeingUH60 3y ago
        I duly get your point, but my opinion is that most kids aren't well equipped to learn in the non-traditional way. The current system doesn't favor everyone, but I think it works best for the average kid who doesn't have exceptional abilities or the intrinsic motivation to learn in a non-standardized way.

YellOh 3y ago

I did the lawful version (read the student handbook and missed the absolute max # of days I could without them being able to take disciplinary action), but basically same here. Also left high school at 16 because I absolutely did not want to be there until 18. Would highly recommend the GED and/or early graduation programs for anyone capable.

jovial_cavalier 3y ago
I would also say, if you proceed to get a college degree - even an associate's from a community college - no one will care how you got your high school diploma. Ditto for an associates when you get your bachelors, your bachelors when you get a masters, and your masters when you get a PhD.
- WkndTriathlete 3y ago
  Not 100% true. When I see candidates with MS/PhD I always check the Bachelor's school since I've seen way too many candidates that get Bachelor's from degree mills, then somehow manage to get a Master's or PhD from a low-tier state school but are unable to grasp even first-year college concepts.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]